Microsoft: Windows 8 Ribbon is Here to Stay

[nsane.forums]

Microsoft's Windows Live president responded to feedback he received by making it clear that while he understand why some people might not be happy about the ribbon, it's not going anywhere.

Ever since Microsoft revealed that the ribbon interface is coming to Windows 8, Microsoft has faced plenty of criticism and complaints. But Windows chief Steven Sinofsky says that employing the ribbon in Windows 8 makes a lot of sense, and it's here to stay.

Last week Microsoft showed off a ribbonized version of the Windows Explorer file manager for Windows 8. Alex Simons, director of program management for Microsoft, wrote in his blog that use of the ribbon will "allow us to create an optimized file manager where commands would have reliable, logical locations in a streamlined experience."

That was followed by a blog from Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky providing more details about the Windows 8 interface, including how the ribbon and the tile-like Metro interface will co-exist.

Windows 8 will feature a revamped Explorer, including a ribbon of cont

Sinofsky got plenty of feedback about the ribbon on his blog, most of it negative. And now Sinofsky has replied to that feedback in another blog post, and he makes clear that while he understand why some people might not be happy about the ribbon, it's here to stay. He writes:

"We have taken into account many of the criticisms we were certain would surface [about the ribbon]. We chose the ribbon mechanism, and to those that find that a flawed choice, there isn't much we can do other than disagree. We were certain, and this proved out, that the dislike of the ribbon is most intense in the audience of this blog. Said dislike, we assumed, would produce a high level of commentary, much the way some topics during Windows 7 blogging did. That assumption was correct."

First of all, kudos to Sinofsky for addressing criticisms directly, and not being mealy-mouthed about it. It's refreshing to see a technology executive be so direct and clear, and to engage directly with his critics. His response to the criticism is a ideal use of a corporate blog.

Sinofsky is absolutely on target when he says that criticism of the ribbon is more intense on the blog than elsewhere. As a veteran tech blogger, I can vouch that no matter what you write, negative comments will almost always outweigh positive ones, and that comments on a blog do not necessarily reflect the views of most people, or even most of the readers of the blog.

Beyond that, he's flat-out right about the ribbon. The ribbon in Office, for example, makes for a productive experience, putting many commands and features within easy reach while using very little real estate. Applying it to Windows Explorer and other Windows 8 apps makes sense and will make it a better operating system.

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[HX1]

Yeah but atleast you can minimize and alter the one in Office...Sometimes I wonder why each element of making things a positive experience are made harder and taken away.. one thing at a time.. I do.. There will be a replacement and possibly a hack... to rid us of it where we need to.. The problem comes when they start updating every month..

[T4C Fantasy]

that little arrow in the corner will make it minimize :P

[myidisbb]

dont worry. more then likely there to a vware return program :P

[Maxhedroom]

I'm ok with the ribbon as long as I can customize it to my liking. ;)

[HX1]

that little arrow in the corner will make it minimize :P

That is IF this is included within it OR of they include customization options.. The ones in the Live applications and Paint for example do not have this at all.. and Office is the only one which does... So this is why I wonder..

[Tweety.Abd]

I think the ribbon UI is stupid and ugly too. I hope there's an option to minimize the "ribbon" thing, or I'll just stick with Win7 :)

[niharjhatn]

From what I have heard, it is surprisingly useful... but looks effin ugly :lol:

Heh - maybe its not too late for the world to switch to UBUNTU, although I must admit, windows 7 is pretty awesome. ^_^

[HX1]

I am sorry but as far is Linux versions is concerned.. Ubuntu is a pain IMO.. I want customization there too.. to do that you have to compile and add packages to be able to work with some of them available.. for it you can do some things to change it.. BUT it isn't always the easiest thing to do.. and in the end you may have to use something else like with a different ( I forget what it is called now.. ) but the rendering UI engine.. Ubuntu isn't bad but I just got so frustrated with it after a while.. IMO Windows 7 buries them.. But then again I always blamed myself for not being able to run a Linux Box from a terminal without a UI as well.. to be able to get all of it done without causing a problem for it.. May be.. maybe not..

From the video I watched I only seen about 2 new features. The rest of them have always been there and ( will always be there ). For the most part it is almost as though they have made it easier for n00b users who have done nothing more than go to the Internet.. In which the don't know what an Internet Browser is.. They call the internet ..'Yahoo' or Google.. or MSN.. They have no idea how to Copy and paste a file... or move a file... and are lost on the simple instructions as they are spoken.. This UI.. well it just puts it n their face.. Something my 70 something year old Mom could see and use.. and those guys who have used Pen and Paper their whole lives... Never used it and at some point in their lives the element of learning was thrown out the window due to repetitiveness and the fact that so many things new have filed and they just rely on the good ol' fashion way.. Now those people can be experienced user.. LOL.. Your 3 year old will now know and understand how to copy files and send them to someone or that in fact they exist because thats right people.. They will have 256px icon that says so.. something glistening their eyeballs.. saying, 'Oooooooo.. prettty pictures..' :rofl: Who reads a book anymore...

This is of course in preparation for having money for education and funds to keep America literate going out the window.. Yes only MS is thinking of US .. the users... Empirically declined not to fail while other OSes will only perish along with Poetry, Art, an the rest of the world... :lmao:

No the days of learning and time consuming knowledge to finally approach those final frontiers and have your 13 year old running lines of code and compiling programs are over.. We are here to take over the coach potato too... the elderly... the feeble.. OMG the horror ..as these people grow over-confident that they are good with a computer.. because its already done for them.. Yes we will have GODs on the machines... Thus proving only one thing.. as if it hasn't been already...

Forget the minimalism .. in design.. we want hoarders and clutter.. more rounded safe toys which appeal to the friendly childish days that we don't remember.. where we felt safe... We need EASY.. No more keyboards.. no we need buttons full of commands and smiles... :)

I couldn't help myself.. Poor people.. I laugh.. they don't get it.. it is like watching your kids play and ask questions or talk about things they have done or how the get it.. It happens sometimes.. But you know for all of that there are people who trump my card to death as well... but even in those first days...I still got to the task easy enough.. I do wonder though if one day we won't wind up being the ones who start watering our crops with Gatorade... because sometimes we just seem to be slipping.. We fill spots with little odd things.. to me only distractions and something weird happening in me I think ... I dunno.. LOL but man.. yeah.. :lmao: Hope you find the hilarity in it I do... in a way.. maybe we will all be waiting for the 9's..FF, Windows... who knows.... LOL